Property Maintenance

Community standards for property maintenance have been established to preserve and improve neighborhoods, and to ensure public health and safety. All property owners and tenants play a role in maintaining a healthy community. Maintaining property free of debris and other nuisances improves public health, safety and the curb appeal of our community, and the neighborhood you live in.

City Ordinance 8.14 requires all property owners, or occupants, of a property to maintain their property in a clean and litter-free manner, including sidewalks, boulevards, one-half of alleys, curbs (or right-of-way) up to the edge of pavement of any public street, and no property owner shall allow solid waste to accumulate on their premises.Common infractions of this ordinance include:

Leaving garbage outdoors not in an approved refuse container or loose.

Furniture placed in yard that is not classified as outdoor furniture.

Setting items out for collection too early or late, or setting out on the wrong date. Items are to be set out between 7 p.m. the night before and no later than 7 a.m. the day of collection.

It is Illegal to Push Snow, Grass Clippings, Leaves and other Debris to the Street

Pushing Snow, Raking Out Leaves and Blowing Grass Clippings to the Street is Illegal.

Leaves and grass clippings left in the street can be washed to nearby storm drains where they can contribute to both localized flooding, and degradation of local water quality.

Raking out leaves and blowing grass clippings into the street is considered a violation of the "Clean Water Act" and City Code, Chapter 8.14.400.

While Public Works does provide street sweeping to remove natural accumulations of leaves from our streets, the service does not provide for the removal of grass clippings or placed masses of leaves raked to the street. Clippings and placed masses of leaves can easily be distinguished from natural accumulations and can lead to fines ranging from $100 to $250.
The City offers several convenient alternatives to dispose of grass clippings, leaves and other yard wastes, including "No Sticker Yard Waste Weeks" in the spring and fall to encourage residents to properly dispose of yard wastes.